Jeramey Jannene

See the 2026 Mayor’s Design Awards Winners

Projects big and small win city's top design honor.

By - May 20th, 2026 05:15 pm
Elevation 1659. Photo by Urban Milwaukee staff.

Elevation 1659. Photo by Urban Milwaukee staff.

The City of Milwaukee is recognizing the best in design through its 29th annual Mayor’s Design Awards.

A total of 24 projects are being recognized across four categories, with honorees ranging from neighborhood murals and pedestrian malls to affordable housing developments and major civic buildings.

An in-person ceremony to recognize the winners is being held Wednesday evening at the UW-Milwaukee School of Architecture and Urban Planning. Mayor Cavalier Johnson is leading the ceremony.

Administered by the Department of City Development, the awards program began under Mayor John Norquist and was continued by Mayor Tom Barrett. The 2026 awards are the fourth under Johnson.

Places & Spaces

The following projects have found unique opportunities to contribute to the character of their neighborhoods and have made Milwaukee’s streets, parks and public spaces more attractive and inviting through enhanced infrastructure, public art and community-centered design.

Vibrant Corridors

The following projects are revitalizing Milwaukee’s commercial corridors by restoring or constructing buildings that activate the public realm, create new destinations and reinforce walkable neighborhood business districts.

Urbanism Redefined

The following projects made extraordinary contributions to Milwaukee’s built environment through large-scale civic, institutional and mixed-use developments that elevate architecture, create community connections and expand opportunities for education and public services.

Everything Begins at Home

In declaring 2026 the “Year of Housing,” Johnson is focusing the city’s development efforts on housing supply, affordability and quality. Several award-winning projects reflect that emphasis through market-rate, affordable and supportive housing developments across Milwaukee.

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